Luminous protector for car door locks



Nbv. 11 1952 H. P. SCHWARTZ 2,617,290

LUMINQUS EROTECTORIFOR CAR DOOR LOCKS Filed Feb. 24, 1951 EM E7 'INVENTOR.

I HENRY P.5CHWARTZ mwmd Patented Nov. 11, 1952 LUMINOUS PROTECTOR FOR CAR DOOR LOCKS Henry P. Schwartz, Bremerton, Wash.

Application February 24, 1951, Serial No. 212,545

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates generally to automobiles and particularly to a luminous protector for car door looks.

The main object of this invention is to provide an exceedingly simple and efficient form of luminous protector for car door locks whereby the lock may be easily located and by means of which the lock mechanism will be protected against water and dust.

I accomplish these and other objects in the manner set forth in the following specification as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of the device showing it in place on a fragment of a car door.

Fig. 2 is a section taken along the line 2-2 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a View showing the protecting facing being removed from the adhesive facing.

Fig. 4 is a section showing how the protector can adapt itself to a curved surface.

Fig. 5 is a sectional perspective view showing a modified form of the device using inwardly projecting tabs adapted to engage the head of the lock body.

Like numbers of reference refer to the same or similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring in detail to the drawing, there is shown the door as in which is mounted the lock body I! whose flange l2 engages the outer side of the door I This construction with slight modifications is common on nearly all car door locks.

Mounted on the door by means of an adhesive I3 is a hollow back escutcheon plate I4 of luminous plastic having a counter-bored opening concentric with the lock body H.

Within the flange M of the lock II is formed a recess 16 into which is inserted the slightly tapered self-locking sleeve ll having an outwardly extending flange I8 which may be integral with the sleeve ll or a separate metal Washer, as shown.

Inserted into the opening i5 is a flexible rubber cap 19 which fits snugly into the opening [5 and has an undercut groove 20 which receives the flange I8.

In the center of the cap 19 is a key slit 21 which is norm-ally closed by the flexible lip 22 which can be moved to one side when it is desired to insert the key 23, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2.

To apply the device, it is only necessary to assemble the parts and place them in position. Pressing on the outside of the plate I l will force the sleeve I'l into the hole [6 until the adhesive surface 13 contacts with and adheres to the door 10.

It can be seen that the lock will be effectively protected against moisture and dirt and at the same time the keyhole is easily located in the dark.

In Fig. 5 is shown a modified form of escutcheon, plate M-A having inturned tabs 25 which are held by the flange [2. With this form of the device an adhesive or other form of seal may be employed between the plate M-A and body Hi. When a non-drying adhesive is used, a paper cover 26 is provided. This is removed when the protector is installed.

I claim:

A protector for car door locks comprising a hollow backed escutcheon plate of luminous material having inturned tabs extending inwardly along the plane of its hollow side and terminating in a central opening adapted to receive the body of a car door lock, and a rubber insert in the front of said plate having a key slit formed therein, said key slit being in alignment with the key slot of said lock.

HENRY P. SCHWARTZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,207,155 Frank Dec. 5, 1916 2,188,264, Fordyce Jan. 23, 1940 2,261,472 I-Iurd Nov. 4, 1941 2,566,490 Heinz Sept. 4, 1951 

